Fates Parallel Chapter 371 - Siege

“Reporting! Another assault at the northern gate! No xiantian enemies were present, but Flowing Purewater forces sustained some casualties.”

Li Meili groaned and rubbed her temples as Chen Ling delivered his report.

“They keep attacking the areas furthest away from our support units.”

Xin Wei rolled his eyes at her.

“Tell me again, I didn’t notice the first dozen times. We have a limited number of healers, and they can’t be everywhere at once.”

“What about your mother?”

“Lin Xiulan is—”

In the distance an enormous sphere of ice snapped into existence, plummeting to the ground and shattering with enough force that it shook the ground beneath them even from so far away.

“...occupied. We didn’t anticipate such high level resistance.”

Meili sighed. Kaede’s intelligence had suggested that the enclave would be mostly empty once Longyan abandoned it for the tomb, but it was packed as full as ever. Not only that, but instead of the lone xiantian demon Yu Meiren that they’d expected, they’d counted at least three other unique xiantian demons.

“Where are they all coming from?!”

Yuan Xing, the commander of the demon hunters from the Silver Orchard pointed at a figure on the map—in the center of the academy grounds, representing Yu Meiren.

“We believe that the Demon Lord’s right hand has some sort of tracking technique. Her ability has made it difficult for us to coordinate our forces against their attacks, but I suspect she also used it to gather together demons that were already hiding throughout the continent.”

Kaede grimaced at the figure.

“Tsk, the cowards won’t even come out and face us herself.”

Commander Yuan shot her a condescending sneer.

“Even if she did, it’s not as if you would be the one to face her.”

“I wouldn’t hesitate to do it.”

“Then you would die.”

Yoshika jabbed the table with a finger to stop their bickering.

“It doesn’t matter—she’s not leaving the shield. I saw her during the descent and she fled from Master Ienaga the instant she lost the advantage. What about Sun Quan—where’s your master, commander?”

Yuan Xing met her glare without flinching.

“Ancestral Grandmaster Sun Quan will act when the time is right. Our place is not to question him.”

She had to suppress another frustrated groan. Yoshika was the authoritative one—she could vent as Meili later. No matter how she sliced it, though, she wasn’t cut out for being in command like this. Tactical analysis and snap decision making was where she excelled—the broad level strategies only frustrated her.

Case in point—ever since that unexplained astronomical phenomenon shifted the entire sky, they’d been fighting a defensive battle. The demons had taken the initiative before the allied forces could properly coordinate with each other and set up a perimeter, and they’d been forced to play catch-up ever since.

Xiulan and Misun were constantly tied up intercepting xiantian fighters, while Sun Quan sat on his laurels and waited—despite ostensibly being the most powerful cultivator in the area. Every time they tried to reinforce one wing, another would get attacked, and they couldn’t get their healers in place fast enough without risking an ambush.

Xin Wei traced a curved line around the perimeter of the academy.

“We could send extra support units, cutting through the Silver Orchard camp to reinforce the north side. They wouldn’t dare try to directly assault one of our command centers, and they could pick up an escort along the way.”

Guan Yu shook his head.

“Too slow. The protection is adequate, but by the time they arrive the enemy will strike another section. There is a unit on the east side that can get there faster, the army there will have to move with them, but we can simultaneously reinforce from the south.”

Kaede pointed at something on the map—Yoshika wasn’t sure what exactly she was indicating, but apparently that was enough for the other commanders to sigh in frustration.

“That’s a trap. It leaves an opening here, which would allow a fast enough strike force to slip through and strike at the support camp.”

The one thing that Yoshika properly understood in all this strategy was that the healers were to be protected at all costs. A successful strike against the Cult of Harmonious Stars would be nothing short of total defeat for their coalition. They were fighting a siege, and it was imperative that they kept the advantage in attrition.

The gap that Hayakawa Kaede pointed out was small and brief, but as long as the enemy was holding a xiantian fighter in reserve, they couldn’t afford to leave even a tiny opening like that.

Yoshika felt like pulling her hair out.

“Commander, is there no chance that your master can agree to a coordinated action?”

Yuan Xing shook his head.

“Ancestral Grandmaster—”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Ugh.”

The two sides were even in terms of xiantian fighters—not counting Yu Meiren, who was difficult to evaluate—but both were keeping one in reserve. As long as Sun Quan didn’t act, the demons couldn’t commit too aggressively, but the same was true in reverse. The coalition had to be extremely cautious of potential ambushes from the hidden xiantian demon.

A stalemate, in theory, but they were losing the war of attrition.

However she was getting it, Yu Meiren’s intelligence let her strike only when her forces could deal lasting damage to the coalition armies, which was preventing them from making optimal use of their support corps.

“Dae, how long until your mages can get those teleporters up and working?”

Hyeong Daesung grimaced at Yoshika’s question.

“You don’t know what you’re asking, Miss Yoshika. Most of our war mages don’t have the kind of theoretical background that you do, much less me. I can count on one hand the number of mages in the entire coalition capable of actually writing the necessary formations, and most of them are busy with other priorities—myself included.”

“We need to do something to break this stalemate.”

“I understand, and I’m doing my best, but there is a much larger theoretical problem to worry about—one which only a tiny handful of people in the entire world are qualified to solve.”

Yoshika sighed. Of course—the barrier. Comparable or even superior to the vaunted shields that protected the relatively small nation of Goryeo from its much larger neighbors. Nobody had ever successfully sieged a shield city before, and though the academy was quite a bit smaller than an actual city, its shield was no less formidable.

Do Hye, Dae’s master, had developed the formation himself—apparently over the course of a decade—and getting through it was no small task.

“How is work on the barrier going, anyway? If we can get through, then we won’t have to keep fighting a defensive battle.”

“Well...slowly. I think it should be possible—before coming here I went over the theories with High Magus Hwang Sung, and we’ve worked out a way. I’m under very strict orders not to divulge any details about the method itself, but it can’t be done on a large scale and is going to take days or even weeks to finish—if it works at all.”

Yuan Xing slammed a fist on the table.

“What do you mean ‘if it works at all’?! This entire mess is due to your nation irresponsibly allowing a bunch of demons to gain control of your precious barrier! Now you dare to keep secrets about it from us?”

“That is the queen’s decision, yes. The method to break through the barrier may not work, depending on factors beyond our control. If it fails, then we’ll need to think of something else.”

Kaede frowned.

“Hyeong has told me as much as he’s able about it, but I’m confident he’ll get it done. It’s just a matter of time. If we don’t have enough, then we’ll need to find a way to buy some.”

Guan Yi regarded her with his typical stoney expression.

“It sounds like you have an idea.”

“Possibly...Yoshika, how would you evaluate your current level of strength, compared to our last meeting?”

Yoshika scratched her cheek, eyeing the Qin commander surreptitiously.

“I’m...not at my best. A major source of my power is tied up elsewhere, and I’m limited without them.”

“I expected as much. And those under your command?”

‘Command’ wasn’t the word Yoshika would use, but she wasn’t going to quibble.

“Takeda Rika is as strong or stronger than she was. Pan Jiaying and Lee Narae may as well be considered mortals. Chen Ling and his squad are good soldiers, and I have no complaints.”

Chen Ling bowed gratefully, but Kaede narrowed her eyes. Yoshika had very intentionally left Eunae out of her evaluation, both because implying that she had a princess under her command in front of Yuan Xing was the last thing she wanted, and also because after the Silver Orchard had tried to assassinate said princess once, she was reluctant to give them any details about her breakthroughs.

Hayakawa Kaede nodded slowly.

“Understood—the circumstances aren’t ideal, but it may still be possible. It’s a risky play, but that’s why our enemies won’t be expecting it. An old tactic that Yamato used to deploy centuries ago in our wars against Qin.”

Yuan Xing scoffed.

“It can’t be all that if you haven’t used it in centuries.”

Kaede shook her head.

“We didn’t stop because it wasn’t effective. We stopped because our war doctrine changed a hundred years ago to account for Master Ienaga. It wasn’t necessary to take such risks with a weapon like her at our disposal.”

“Tsk. Get on with it then, what’s your plan?”

“We’ve been cautious of a potential ambush from the enemy’s hidden xiantian elite. Careful not to do anything that might provoke action, for fear that it might irrevocably tip the balance against us. My plan is to do the reverse—intentionally provoke the ambush and lure the enemy into a trap of our own.”

Yoshika sighed.

“I’ve been trying to suggest that already, but Sun Quan won’t go for it. It’s way too risky if we can’t count on his support.”

“No, I don’t mean that. I just mean us. We’ve done it before.”

Yoshika’s eyes widened as she realized what Kaede was saying.

“Wait—hold on, that was just one time and I don’t think it was fighting at its full strength!”

Kaede’s fierce gaze pierced her soul.

“Don’t disregard your achievements so quickly. Xiantian beings are not invincible. They can bleed, they can die, they can be killed. Yamato would not have survived as long as we have if it wasn’t possible. I fought next to you against the Magma elemental, and we overcame it. You and I have both slain xiantian beasts.”

“Pre-awakening, sure—but I’m not at full strength, Kaede, and these are fully awakened, potentially ancient monsters as intelligent as you or I. They aren’t going to be holding back to test us—they’re just going to kill us.”

“It’s a risk, but a calculated one. This coalition is a gathering of houtian elites unlike any other since the very academy these grounds once hosted. More powerful cultivators than these have been brought low by less impressive gatherings. We can do this.”

Yuan Xing scowled and shook his head.

“I’m against it. I won’t risk my demon hunters on a suicide mission. If you want to shift the balance, tell your queen to send xiantian reinforcements.”

Yoshika furrowed her brows.

“Why haven’t they sent more mages with you, anyway?”

Dae chuckled nervously.

“High Magus Hwang Sung is occupied chasing down leads on the former Grand Magus, and the High Council of Nobility have elected to hold our greatest weapon in reserve for the time being.”

In other words, there was still leftover instability from the failed coup and the nobles were too nervous about moving their strongest assets around. Damned politics. Yoshika sighed.

“Do you really think we can do it, Kaede?”

Hayakawa nodded.

“We’ve done it before, and in worse shape. We have more forces available, better coordination, and we can make our plan in advance. Five years ago, I’d never have dreamt of wasting elite fighters on a mission this dangerous, but here and now—I know it’s possible. Especially with you, Yoshika.”

Li Meili blinked, so flustered that she forgot about her authoritative Yoshika persona for a moment.

“Wh—me?! I just told you I’m not at full strength—without Jia and Eui here...”

Kaede shook her head.

“Your personal power, considerable though it may be, was never your real strength. I’ve been groomed for leadership since I was born, and I know strong leaders when I see them. You bring people together, Yoshika. None of this would be happening without you. This entire coalition is your doing.”

“I was just in the right place at the right time...”

“No. You made this happen. As much as I’d like to believe in my own capabilities, my father was right. My diplomatic mission was doomed to fail without you. I didn’t know it then, but you appeared from nowhere in the time and place I needed you most. Now, here you are again. I don’t believe that’s a coincidence.”

Guan Yi cleared his throat politely.

“I believe that Lady Hayakawa is correct. This is a rare opportunity. We have forces that are experienced with facing xiantian combatants, and our foes will not be expecting such formidable resistance from mere houtian fighters. It is a strategy that can only be used once, but one which will devastate our enemies if it succeeds.”

Yuan Xing scoffed.

“Our own forces will be just as devastated if you fail.”

“I will take an uncertain victory over a certain defeat. Lady Hayakawa, I approve your operation. Let us discuss the details.”